Classes suspended in 4 Maguindanao towns as military, BIFF clash

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 11): Classes suspended in 4 Maguindanao towns as military, BIFF clash

Education officials in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) suspended classes on Monday in four towns of Maguindanao affected by ongoing military operations against IS-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

In a press conference here Monday, Department of Education-ARMM Secretary Rasol Mitmug identified the affected towns as those of Datu Montawal, Pagalungan, Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun and Rajah Buayan, all in Maguindanao.

“We are primarily concerned on the safety of the children and teachers in the affected areas,” Mitmug said.

At least 1,438 pupils and 671 teachers from the four towns joined some 10,000 others in evacuating to safer grounds following a Sunday attack by military forces against BIFF elements protecting a bomb-making factory in the Liguasan Marsh bordering the towns of Pagalungan and Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun towns.

Military airstrikes have successfully destroyed the militant’s bomb-making factory but fierce battle continued as of 4 p.m. Monday, a military update said.

So far, 15 BIFF members have been confirmed killed in the ongoing military operation while a top BIFF bomb-maker and his wife were arrested.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1037922